4 C O N T E X T 1 3 3 : M A R C H 2 0 1 4 Letters Consult the experts From John Fidler, John Fidler Preservation Technology Inc, Marina Del Rey, California Some points in response to John Somers’ article and questions on the Venn Arch in Hereford (‘Facing the weather’, Context 132, November 2013). English Heritage can sometimes help with definitive mineralogical assessments of stone binders through its consultant geologist, David Jefferson. Consultant geologists abound through services provided by the British Geological Survey (BGS); BRE (former Building Research Establishment); Sandbergs (testing engineers); and, not least, by reference to the UK Geological Society in London. For example, I believe that Tim Palmer (tjp@aber. ac.uk), consultant in architectural geology and recently secretary of the Welsh Stone Forum, would be familiar with this stone. With due respect to the Earth Heritage Trust, an acid test is pretty primitive and only one of many more sophisticated tools used to determine the precise provenance and constituents of building stones. Clay- and calcite-bound stones are pretty common in England. Stone consolidants are no longer considered ‘experimental miracle… cures’ – the SPAB moratorium ended long ago. English Heritage’s Research Transactions (Volume 2) contains evidence of longterm performance of silane-based treatments. For this particular stone situation Remmers Fungosil anti-hygro pre-treatment + KSE 300E elastic ethyl consolidant are specifically designed for clay-bound sandstones; and ProSoCo’s Conservare Hydroxylating Conservation Treatment and neutralising rinse are good precursors for standard ethyl silicate stone consolidation of calcareous sandstones. Poorly maintained and failing limewash can be harmful to clay-bound stones. The evaluation and treatment of arches like these should be left to accredited architectural conservators who know all this. John Fidler About 4,000 of the barns in theYorkshire Dales National Park are in the open countryside. the evidence of the last 10 years suggests that this will just lead to more of the same: more second homes and more dream homes for retired people.’ Peter Charlesworth, chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, on the government’s proposal to allow agricultural buildings such as barns to be turned into homes without the need for planning permission. ‘THIS IS a stellar line-up of talent demonstrating the worldwide interest in this unique and challenging project. The rebuild of the Crystal Palace is set to produce an extraordinary new landmark for the capital, which will support the rebirth of this historic park, and catalyse jobs and growth in the local area.’ London mayor Boris Johnson, chair of the judging panel, announcing that Zaha Hadid, Richard Rogers and David Chipperfield are on a shortlist of architects to ‘rebuild’ Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace exhibition hall in south London. ‘WE ARE committed to renewable energy but it has to work in the landscape. The trust aims to source 50 per cent of its energy from renewables, including wind, by 2020, but this shouldn’t be at any cost. ‘Our core purpose as a conservation charity means we have a duty to protect beautiful places like Lyveden and each wind proposal should be of a scale and location that works with the special qualities of its setting.’ National Trust director general Helen Ghosh welcoming a Court of Appeal decision to quash a planning inspector’s approval of a wind farm close to the National Trust property, Lyveden New Bield. “developer” is spat out with contempt. It is as though they are speaking of Satan and his diabolical agents, who used to appear in the horror novels of Dennis Wheatley that I so enjoyed in my youth.’ Design writer Stephen Bayley writing in The Spectator. ‘THE GOVERNMENT proposals to relax the restrictions will have potentially disastrous consequences here – probably more than in any other area of England. About 4,000 of the barns in the National Park are located away from farmsteads, out among fields in the open countryside. ‘Valleys full of fields dotted with these stone field barns could be transformed into a semi-urban environment with roads and overhead power and phone lines.You would have gardens, cars, washing lines, greenhouses and everything else that goes with a home springing up in some of the most stunning – and nationally protected – countryside in England. ‘In addition, there would be major disruption of the landscape to install the basic infrastructure like sewer and water pipes – and the authority would be powerless to control it or to prevent it from happening. ‘We understand the government’s aims to regenerate our rural communities by making the best use of redundant and under-used agricultural buildings. But in the Dales, the proposals would have the opposite effect. ‘The government’s proposal would totally undermine local efforts to provide more affordable housing for local people. They would open up a flood of unconstrained, open-market housing. All
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